Paper-folding machine.



F. L. GROSS. PAPER FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULYIB, 190a.

Patented June 3, 1913.

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M 26% MGM F. L. GROSS.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED JULY 18, 1908.

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1,063,860. Patented June 3,1913.

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FRANK L. CROSS, 0F WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROSS PAPER FEEDER COMPANY. A-CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

PAPER-FOLDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June a, 1913.

Application filed July 18, 1908. Serial No. 4443M.

Machines; and I do hereby declare the fol-, lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description ofythe invention, such as will enabe others skilled in the art, to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to sheet. feeding mechanism adapted for feeding sheets of paper to folding or other machines,

The object of the invention is to provide novel and improved mechanism whereby the sheets may be separated and presented either automatically or by hand to the devices for forwarding them to the folding or othermechanism which is to act upon them.

A further object of the invention is to "provide a mechanism of this type which is Well adapted for feeding sheets to folding machines such as are used for folding sheets work upon of paper in binderies and similar establishmerits, and the inventionv will be described as applied to such machine.

Such folding machines have heretofore been of two classes with respect to the devices employed for supporting the sheet supply and presenting the sheets in succession to the devices for feeding them to the folding mechanism. In one class of maphines the sheet supply is supported upon a feed table arranged in front of the feeding devices, and the individual sheets are manually separated from the supply and presented to the feeding devices. In the other class of machines the sheet supply is presented to mechanism which acts to automatically separate the individual sheets from the supply and present them to the devices by which they fed to the folding mechanism. The and feed machines are of gen bral utility and adaptability, and may be employed i doing all the various classes of hich the folding mechanism of the machine is designed to operate. For this reason, this form of machine is the more generally used, and, is exclusively used in those establishments in which a general class of work is done, and in which only one or two folding machines are required to take care of the work. Machines which are pro vided with mechanism for automatically separating the sheets from the sheet 311 ply are especially adapted for use upon long runs involving the folding of a large num'-' her of sheets, and this class of work may be done upon these machines with greater economy and in less time than upon the hand feed machines. The automatic feed machines me not adapted, however, to op crate upon the smaller sizes of sheets which it may be necessary to fold, or to o crate economically upon short runs. The limited range of work which may be done with economy upon the automatic feed machines has practically prohibited their use in the smaller estahlislmicnts doing a general class of work, although much of the work done on the hand feed machines with which these establishments are equipped could be done with greater economy upon automatic feed machines. The installation of automatic feed machines has therefore been confined heretofore to those establishments doing special work, or doing work of such character or amount as to warrant the employ ment of both hand feed and automatic feed folding machines.

The present invention overcomes the objeetions to the automatic feed machines ahore outlined, and provides a machine which may be utilized to do all classes of work in the most economical and advantageous manner. I

The invention contemplates the provision in a machine having sheet folding mechanism and devices for feeding sheets to the folding mechanism, of mechanism for automatically separating the sheets from a sheet supply, and means for moving the separatinp mechanism into position for delivering sheets to the feeding devices, or into position to allow the presenting of, sheets to the feeding devices by hand. With the automatic sheet separating mechanism thus constructed and arranged, this mechanism may be adjusted to active position whenever work is to be folded which can be most economically done by automaticallyseparating the sheets from the sheet supply,

and when work is to be done which is not adapted for automatic separation of the sheets, the sheet separating mechanism may be readily moved out of active position, and a feed board he placed or brought into position so that the sheets may be manually separated fIOXTL the sheet supply on the Ill) when the frame is e i '0 sheet supply thereie;

the'first set, of :toli

stood that the board and presented to the feeding (lBV'iLQS of the machine. Thus the much. clei'edof general utility siul schiptnhiiity, and may be utilised to told all classes of work in the most advuntsgeons and economicel manner. 7

In accordance with the broader features of the invention, any suitable ii'omi of mechanism acting to automatically sepm'et i21- divitlual sheets from n s set supply and present them to the teeming devices by vices for enshlis moved into and out oi. act be of any suitable construetz ment. The (levies-ea to be presentetl Z is. vices may also he tion and airless into proper re Vices by the ."1. separating meal or may be placed in pa; inatic separating me drawn from aetive ferred embotlimen nism is provided supply to the ngechi maticslly the supply, ("and msunteel upon i portel that it ma of active relation all 7 ing the sheets to the "to. aiiism, 21ml means is a hostel ill the sheets to the stating mechanism i The Vlil'lOliS "features of the 13 i be readily understood from the accompanying tli'zi'wi' Figure l is a ing a folding" machinons features of the im erred forms, the a'utoms i'neehanism being shown in so to the devices for ieeelieg the folding mechanism; Fig.2 e 5.1 illustrating i l16l SitlC ii off the the sheets are to hemammll'v ices and the mesthe construc -i mechanism is intliest log hlzule 3 which cooperates with the rolls i in tormii'ig the iii st told in the sheets. .le feeding tapes 2 pass arouml a drum or series of rolls 4 secured to at shaft 5 which (,h'i V811 through mechanism not :p rolls 6 coopei'ste with the rolls 4c and the tapes .2 in thetling the sheets into position to he acted upon by the folding mechasm. drop rolls 6 are earriecl in arms 7 which are secured to a rock shaft 8, and ti: rolls are raised. and lowered at proper intervals by mm 9 arranged to engage'lthe lorvesencl oil sh arm 10 which is secured to the rock shaft 8. The machine is also led with series of front ll earhysleeves 12 which mescljustably se- 'eiiiietl moon rock shaft 13 by means of set s'ei'e An operating arm 15 is secured ehrl of the roelt shaft 18, and is er rin l to he engaged andoperated by a cam seeureil on the end of the rock shaft 8. e arrangement of the cam and operating such that the rock it 13 is rocked. e 1 the from: when sise, and to miss the es en eii-the drop rolls are lowered. are being automatically pre- :Llie feeding clevices, the front 0 adjustecl upon. the rock shaft tlo not move ale i1 into the mth' when the deep rolls are rzi'lsecl. ammo he grresentetl manually g 'l the front gagesv are 1 upon the shafttlmt they will :1 s across the path of the sheet when it rolls 6 we misegi, and will be missed out of the pins of the sheets when the drop F to engagement with the Jl'lllSHl shown to}: automatically 5 sheets from sheet supply and V 3 them to e. feed rolls and J- .tklslfinlllillly the same in constructies and mode of ogieirstion :is the sheet 12g mechanism shown and ilescribed ital All No. 812,260, dated Febrile-2* 13, ",Ihis sheetsepara-ting mechanism es combing rolls, one of which is iii sheet eg the setion of the combing rolls, one these being imiit'atetl' at 18. The feathered bank of sheets forming the sheet supply is supported upon a table position-to he acted upon by the combing s and is delivered on to the table 20 "0? 2; supply table 21 through a curved "Use side of the curvecl threat is sha l by a series of curved 'gHiQles QB; and

pass The haul: of sheets intermittently advanced to the eml ot the hank son kl series of feed shown.

operated trips'foz' eer ElflQ 15 formed by s eli'um 24 overanaemic to the combing devices, by mechanism (not shown) which acts to intetanittently rotate the drum 2a and ;the pulleys 2.7 over which the tapes 20 pass. This mechanism eor1=esponds in construction and anode of operation to the mechanism shown in the patent above referred to for controlling the teeding .tnovetnent of the blank oil sheets in the machira: of said patent. I

By the action of the combing wheels, the sheets are suecessiye'ly admin-ed i-n to position between the rolls 28 and ill) by which they are delivered betcweenthe rolls =l and the drop rolls t3. The rolls 29 are mounted in arms 30, and are raised and lowered at proper intervals by mechanism such as is shown in the patent referred to. 'llhe sheets as they pass from the rolls 28 and 29 to the rolls -6 and 4, are supported and guided by guiding rods 31 and 32 arranged below and above the path of the sheets, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The mechanism for automatically sepa: rating the sheets from the sheet supply, and the mechanism forautonmtticall y presenting the sheet supply to the separating mecha nism, is driventthrough a sprocket chain 32 \vhic'l'i passes over a sprocket Wheel secured to theshaft 5, and orea sprocket wheel secured to the shaft 33 which carries the delivery ro'lls 28.

senting the sheet supply to the separating mechanism are mounted in airaiue provided with side ,plates 34 and side bars 35. The side plates 34 are supported upon base plates and are guided on these plates by rihs it? which engage the inner sides of the rltttth.

The side bars 35 are supported and guided upon rolls 38 mounted or secured. upon a transverse shaft 39. The shaft 3:) is inouuted in bearings at) on the base plates Ilti, a tltil is provided with pinions 4-1 which engage racks 42 secured to the side bars 235.

hen sheets are to be automatically sepa rated from the sheet supply and ted to the;

folding mechanism, the parts are in the pofolding mechanism by the feeding rolls and tapes. In case it isdesired to present the. sheets manually to the feeding devices, the

sprocket chain 32 is removed from the sprocket wheel, and the frame carrying the sheet; separating mechanism is retracted into the position indicated in Fig, 2, the movem nt of the frame into this position being readily accomplished by turning the shaft 39 bv means of a crank t3. After the frame has been run back, a feed board is placed in position with its front end resting; upon a cross-r0d -16 or other part of the .lraiue The mechanisms tor auto 1 matically sepaiattngthe sheets and tor prewhich ca nriosttho automatic sheet separating meehauimn. The 't'nont gages: 11. are also l rd so that they will be moved into posit ion against the lingers +t-7 which project lironi the trout of the feed boa-rd when the drop rolls 6 are raised. A shw supply may now lie supported upon the :leed hoard .1-4, and the shoots actually 4%.I'Mtl'thi0tl from the sheet supply and presented in position att't-linst the treat gages, so that they will he lied to the l'oldiug mechanism when the drop rolls (3 are lowered and the front gages raised. l/ i'then the automatic sheet separating mechanism is to be again rendered active. the teed board 'sliremoved, the trout. gag't-is adjusted into position Where they will not be moved across the path of the shoot, and the frame carrying the sheet separating mechanism is advanced until the side plates $3! bring; up against the steps 48.

'lhis la-i gs the sheet separating mechanism into ptri-illltft'l to properly nesent the sheets to the leading devices, and the driving mechanism l'or tt i automatic guiding devices is thrown into action by replacing the sprocket chain Eli) on the sprocket Wheels.

ll-loving: explained the nature and object of the invention, and specifically described one embodiment thereol, What I claim: i.':-

1.. A paper :i'oldinp; machine, having, in romhinatitai, sheet, tohiliug devices, feed rolls and 3t apes .l'or fading sheets to the olding devices, mechanism for separating sheels from a bank and delivering them in succession between the feed rolls, and means tor moving the separating mechanism into position 't'or delivering sheets between the feed rolls or into position to permit a steed board to he positioned at the :tfeed rolls for feeding the shorts by hand, and a feed board positioned at the teed rolls when the separating naa-hanism out of position and removed from position at the feed rolls when the separating ua-iehanism is in position,substantially is described.

52. A paper tohling machine, having, in combination, shoot; folding mechanism, devices for feeding sheets to the folding mechanisin, mechanism for separating sheets.

routliinatiou. short folding: n'imrhanisut, de-' vices :tfor trailing shawls to the folding mechdescribed.

rating mechanism s out. of position for tde 4. A paper foldii Vices for feeding sheets to the folding mechanism, afeed table, a supply table arranged above the feed table, means for feeding a feathered bank of sheets from the supply table on: to the feed table, devices for separating individual'sheets from the sheet supply on the feed table and delivering them in. succession to the feeding devices, a frame carrying the feed and supply tables and sheet separating mechanism, means for retracting the frame to permit sheets to be delivered manually "to-the sheet feeding. de-

vices and for advancing it into position for the automatic delivery of sheets to the sheet feeding devices and a feed board positioned at the feeding dev ces when the frameis retracted and removed from position at the feeding devices when. the frame is advanced for delivering automatically to the feeding devices, substantiallv as described. 5.'A paper folding" machine, having, in combination, sheet folding mechanism, devices for feeding sheets to thefolding mech\ anism, front gages for positioning sheets at, the feed devices, mechanism for separatingsheets from a bank of sheets and delivering: them in succession to the feeding devices, means for moving the separating mechanism. into or out of position for delivering sheets to the feeding devices. means for throwing the front gages out of action when the separating mechanism in position for delivering sheets to the feeding devices, and throwing them into action when the sepa liverinsr sheets to the'feeding devices and means for removably supporting a feed table in position for the presenting sheets to the front gages by hand when the separating mechanism isoutof a'ct veposition, suhstantially,as descrihed.- 6. A paper. folding-machine, having, in combination, sheet. foldingflnechanism', devicesfor feeding sheets to the folding mechanism,-front gages 'fon'positioning sheets at the feeding; :tlevices, mechanism for rating sheets a of sheet-- livering; them in some men to i machine, having, in i combination, sheet folding mechanism, de-

. serving when out devices, sframe ,i; the chi oeaeoo ins: mechanism and hank of sheets, guides for supporting the sheets in front of the sheet separating mechanism, meansfor retracting the frame to Withdraw the guides from the feeding devices and for advancing it to bring the ghides into position to deliver sheets to the'fceding devices, means for throwing the front; gages into and out of operation and mehns for supporting; a feed table in position for the presenting of sheets to the front gages by hand when the frame is retracted, substantially as described. V

7. A paper folding machine, having, in" combination, sheet folding devices, feed rolls and tapes for feeding sheets to the folding devices, front gages for positioning the sheets at the feed rolls when feeding by hand, mechanism for separating sheets from a bank of sheets and delivering them in succession to the feed rolls, means for'moving the separating mechanism into or out 'of po sition for delivering sheets to the feed 'rolis, means for throwing the front gages out of action when the separating mechanism is in position for delivering. sheetstoflthe feed rolls and for throwing theminto action when the separating mechanism, is out of this position, and meansforsupportinga feed board in position for feeding sheets to the front gages by hand when the-separating mechanism is out of active positiomsuo stantially as described. 8. A paper folding machine, having; in combination, sheet folding'devices, devices for feeding sheets to the folding devices, mechanism for separating" sh'eets from a bank of sheets and deliveringthem incite cession to the feeding devices, a frame carrying the sheet separating mechanism and: bank .of sheets, guides for supporting sheets in front of the sheet separating mech-, anis'iu, means for moving the frame to bringi, the guidcs'iiito or out of position to deliver sheets to the feeding devices, and mcanshfor supporting a feed table in pos tion for feed ingnsheets .to the feeding devices by hand .in'g means, 'aut omaticj sheet separgting means. said-sheet separating means eing' movable into 'andoutgof positionhfor' deliv heets .to' said sheet forsheet separatinn'means ofpdelive'ring position, as 'a'supportfor a hrhidfeed board for' deiivei ering the separated; "warding means's istcrin'g p i it Aljsheet feeding machinelin, hiding in noination, sheet forwarding and registermeans, a, feed hoard, automatic f separating means, 'said fsh eetseparating meansheing movable into and out of posiing sheetsto 'said sheet forwarding- ,and reg rea 

